Williamson's 102 provided the backbone of New Zealand's 229 for four at stumps which left England on the ropes on a wet and gloomy day when rain restricted play to 23.1 overs and only 54 runs were scored.

"I'd still rather be out there," Williamson said when asked how he felt breaking the previous New Zealand record of 17 centuries which he shared with Ross Taylor and Crowe.

"I've never focussed too much on stats, it's always been about trying to do my best for the team. That's why today it was frustrating to not still be out there."

"I've never focussed too much on stats, it's always been about trying to do my best for the team. That's why today it was frustrating to not still be out there."

Williamson refused to accept comparisons between himself and Crowe, whom he rated as New Zealand's "best player, batsman certainly, of all time".

Williamson reached his milestone century with a deft single through the gully off James Anderson, the most successful of the England bowlers with three of the four wickets to fall.

Meanwhile, England pacer James Anderson took the most wickets after their dismal performance with the bat in the first innings.

"We have to keep believing. If we don't have belief there's no point turning up and putting in the hard yards ... we've got to believe we can get something out of this game."

It was Anderson who dismissed Williamson eventually but not before he added meaningful partnerships, first with 84 with Latham, 31 with Taylor and 83 with Nicholls.